Hafnia tankers to trial waste-derived marine fuel

Norwegian product tanker operator Hafnia and UK-based energy technology company Arq have agreed to cooperate on the development of a new type of marine fuel derived from industrial waste.

Arq has developed a novel and patented technology that transforms environmentally damaging coal waste into a micro-fine hydrocarbon powder that has many industrial uses, including blending into oil products to create stable dispersions. The new fuel also offers material benefits as a low-sulphur blending component for IMO 2020-compliant marine fuels.

Under the partnership agreement, Hafnia will conduct trials using the new fuel on some of its vessels. After securing the required accreditations, trials scheduled for mid-2021 aim to confirm the fuel’s compatibility for the approximately 450 vessels for which Hafnia procures fuels.

This agreement follows a series of successful tests which have demonstrated the fuel’s performance as a marine fuel component that can be used without any changes to the existing supply chain and ship engines.

Hafnia and Arq will now work together to optimise blends which meet environmental standards and maximise cost efficiencies.